General information; it does not replace the policy, legal advice, or professional safety instructions.
Claim and event details
- Property address, policy number, claim number, and current contact information
- Date and approximate time the damage was discovered
- A short, factual description of what you observed
- Names and contact details for emergency, mitigation, inspection, or repair professionals
Photographs and video
- Exterior views and an overview of every affected room
- Close views of damaged materials, building components, and personal property
- Images showing measurements, model or serial numbers, and the location of each item when useful
- Earlier photographs, inspection reports, or listings that may show the condition before the loss
Building and repair records
- Emergency-service and temporary-repair invoices
- Inspection reports, repair scopes, estimates, contracts, permits, and paid receipts
- Photographs taken before, during, and after temporary or permanent work
- A simple note explaining which damaged area each record relates to
Personal-property inventory
- Item description, room, quantity, brand, model, and approximate age
- Photographs and available purchase records, manuals, statements, or comparable product information
- Whether the item can be cleaned, repaired, or must be evaluated for replacement
- A running total that can be checked against the detailed item list
Additional expenses
Keep itemized receipts for temporary housing, meals, transportation, storage, protective work, or business expenses that arose because of the loss. Keep each receipt even if you do not yet know whether the policy covers the expense.
Communications and organization
Save letters, emails, portal messages, estimates, reports, and payment explanations in one folder. Record the date, participants, and next step after important calls or visits. Keep originals, send copies when possible, and avoid emailing unnecessary sensitive information.
